Awamori is an alcoholic beverage indigenous to and unique to Okinawa, Japan. It is made from long grain rice, and is not a direct product of brewing (like sake) but of distillation.

On this episode, American mixologist Josh learns a bit more about the Okinawan spirit, including how it’s made, and teaches us how to make a simple Awamori cocktail.

Our challenge is to make our own signature cocktails, at a rooftop bar, using his instructions.

Best cocktail wins.

Teamed up with Russian dancer Maria, we make the “Canussia”:

• 2 parts Awamori
• 1 part grapefruit
• 1/2 part dragonfruit
• Egg white
• Coffee

Watch the episode to find out if we win…

 Episode 5. The Spirit of Okinawa / Be. Okinawa:

Here are some of my own photos from our Awamori & other drinking experiences:

Handmade pottery at Chuko distillery

Robbie, Marine, Felix, Emma, Maria

Team Canada-Russia, UK-France, Germany-Australia

Made from distilled rice, water, yeast and black fungus called koji

Free awamori samples at DFS shopping centre in Naha

Shogen at Chuko distillery

We found a random bar at the back of a restaurant, inside of a mall around the corner from our hotel. We ended up going here on many occasions, just to hang out and grab a drink.

Here we are grabbing a quick one before heading to the beach.

Filming at the distillery

Pottery making at the distillery

The boys dropped down for some random push-ups between filming

MARE, Terrazzo Di Vista — The restaurant for the rooftop cocktail challenge

The “Canussia”

Felix on the rooftop

The mess after creating the Canussia

Sometimes you find yourself inside a yurt bar in theOkinawan mountains…

Our favourite bartender at the mall bar

Heading home from the mall bar

Sipping free awamori shots at the mall

Mr Oshiro, owner at Chuko distillery

Maria making a clay pot

If you look closely, those are four chair that make up a small bar stall in Naha

Robbie

View of the Okinawa airport from the rooftop bar

Find the official webisodes website here
Watch all videos here

Okinawa: A Journey of Discovery
The Secret Recipe for Long Life in Okinawa
The Art of Ryukyu Dance